Boxing Ledger's Archives

Friday, July 1, 2011

NEW YORK, NY (July 1, 2011) – DiBella Entertainment has added former WBA junior middleweight champion Joachim Alcine to its stable of fighters. Alcine, 35, is a Haitian-born Canadian who employs a very technical style of boxing but in a crowd-pleasing way. After an extended layoff, Alcine is ready to return to the ring and prove that he belongs among the junior middleweight elite.

“I’m looking forward to getting back into the ring very soon,” says Alcine. “I’m out to prove to the boxing world, my fans and most importantly myself that I am still one of the best junior middleweights in the world. I know that as long as I take care of my business in the ring, my advisor Greg Leon and promoter Lou DiBella will get me the fights I want and need.”

Said Leon, "I feel like I've been saying it every other week lately, but it's always a pleasure to work with DBE. Team Alcine looks forward to achieving great results under his promotional banner."

It was after Alcine moved to Canada at the age of nine when he grew fascinated with the sport of boxing. However, due to having strict parents, it wasn’t until the age of 16 that Alcine took up the sport, acquiring an amateur record of 42-6 over the next eight years. Turning pro on May 28, 1999, Alcine dispatched Louis Bouchard at 2:44 of the opening round in Montreal. Word quickly spread about this rising prospect six months later when Alcine took on local amateur star Jason Naugler and won a majority four-round decision in his opponent’s hometown of Edmonton. Television caught wind of Alcine and began to air his early fights, recognizing that his style was well suited for such a platform. He also started to gain a following by appearing on the undercards of popular Canadian fighters such as Davey Hilton and Eric Lucas.

On May 25, 2002, with a record of 12-0 (8 KOs), Alcine fought the crafty and experienced Marcos Primera at the Lowes Speedway, in Charlotte, NC, in what was his introduction to an American audience, as the bout was televised by Showtime’s popular series, “ShoBox: The New Generation.” Not only was it Alcine’s United States debut, it was the first time that he fought outside of Canada. After outboxing Primera over 12 rounds, Alcine won a unanimous decision to earn the IBA junior middleweight title.

Over the next four and a half years, and 15 straight wins with 10 knockouts, Alcine would go on to acquire several other minor titles at junior middleweight, including the Canadian title, as well as the WBA Fedelatin, NABA, WBC International, and WBA Fedecentro belts.

Notable victories during this period include blasting out former Canadian junior middleweight and middleweight champion Stephan Ouellet in just 69 seconds, and stopping former IBF junior middleweight title challenger Carlos Bojorquez in seven rounds, and former WBA junior middleweight titlist Carl Daniels in six.

On July 7, 2007, Alcine got his first world title opportunity, making his third US appearance when he traveled to the champion’s home state of Connecticut, taking on the undefeated Travis Simms, at Harbour Yard Arena in Bridgeport. Maintaining his role as the aggressor throughout, combined with scoring a knockdown in the ninth frame, earned Alcine a unanimous decision as he picked up the WBA junior middleweight crown. In his first defense, Alcine thoroughly dominated Alfonso Mosquera before dropping him twice in the 12th round, on his way to the TKO victory.

It was in his next bout that Alcine lost his title to Daniel Santos via sixth-round knockout in a close fight, on July 11, 2008. However, in 2009, a refreshed Alcine bounced back with two impressive unanimous decision victories over quality foes Eric Mitchell in 10 and Christophe Canclaux in 12. These two wins warranted him a WBC eliminator against the hard punching Alfredo Angulo, but he would stunningly get stopped inside one round, on July 17, 2010.

Alcine, 32-2 (19 KOs), is looking forward to getting back on track under the DiBella Entertainment banner. His next bout is not yet scheduled.

It was an explosive battle for 12 rounds, in which the experienced Pongsaklek did everything he needed to win the bout.

Takuya was faster, and had better technique at a distance, but the veteran champion worked better when counter-attacking, and took advantage of the mistakes of his rival, landing more demolishing left hooks.

“People from Hartford are going to want to move to New Haven,” Ayala quipped.

Truth is, there’s more than just hometown pride on the line when Ayala and Cardona lock horns Friday, July 29th, 2011 in the co-main event of “Heat Wave,” presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville; the two are fighting for the vacant World Boxing Council U.S. National Boxing Council (WBC USNBC) middleweight title, a championship formerly held by some of boxing’s elite fighters in various divisions, most notably former two-time world champion Paul “The Punisher” Williams (39-2, 27 KOs), who won the WBC USNBC welterweight title in 2006 and went on to capture the World Boxing Organization’s welterweight and light middleweight titles in 2007 and 2008, respectively; and former WBO light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson (28-1-1, 14 KOs), who also won the WBC USNBC light welterweight title in ’06. The list of former and current WBC USNBC champions also includes Worcester, Mass., super middleweight Edwin Rodriguez (18-0, 13 KOs), Providence, R.I., light heavyweight Joey “K.O. Kid” Spina (26-1-2, 18 KOs), and current North American Boxing Organization (NABO) champion and No. 7-ranked lightweight John Molina Jr. (23-1, 19 KOs).

“I’m taking the belt home,” said Cardona, who hasn’t fought since losing to Hector Camacho Jr. in 2009.

“There’s no way he’s beating me. He’s going to have to kill me. I don’t talk [trash]. I don’t even know who he is. He could be a great guy, but when that bell rings it’s a different story.”

Neither fighter in next month’s co-main event is a stranger to boxing’s biggest stage; Ayala (23-5-1, 11 KOs) fought current World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham for a world title in 2008 while the 36-year-old Cardona (36-10, 28 KOs) is a former two-time world champion in the super featherweight and light welterweight divisions, winning the International Boxing Organization (IBO) super featherweight title in 1995 with a unanimous-decision victory over Jeff Mayweather, and then capturing the organization’s light welterweight belt two years later by knocking out Steve Larrimore in Connecticut.

“I feel like it’s, ‘Here we go again!’” Ayala said. “I’ve been in this position before, but now it’s time for me to prove myself. I know [Cardona] is an older guy, but he’s well experienced. He’s been a world champion, so I know he has a lot of experience. I don’t want to make any mistakes. I’ve been looking better with each fight so far, so I want to do even better this time.”

While Ayala, 30, is in the midst of what could be his final run at another world-title opportunity, Cardona is taking what will surely be his last shot at adding a fifth title to his own resume; in addition to the two world championships he won in the ‘90s, Cardona is also a former United States Boxing Association (USBA) and North American Boxing Federation (NABF) lightweight champion.

Though the records show Cardona lost a unanimous decision to Paul Spadafora in 1999 for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) middleweight title, Cardona maintains he’s never lost a world-title bout on a level playing field, pointing to Spadafora’s arrest in 2003 for shooting his pregnant girlfriend as proof that his opponent “was on something” at the time of the fight. Two years later, Spadafora plead guilty to drug use charges and served additional jail time, though no link has ever been made between his drug use outside of the ring and his career inside the squared circle.

“When you mess around with drugs … you do stupid [things],” Cardona said.

Cardona also questioned the integrity of the IBF, which absorbed a serious blow in 1999 when former president Bob Lee resigned in the wake of racketeering and bribery charges, and claims he was “robbed” of a potential third world title.

“That’s another story for another time,” Cardona said. “Right now, I’m getting another title shot and it’s made me 10 times more motivated. I don’t lose title fights. You want me to fight for a title? Hell yeah! I’m soaking wet right now; I just worked out. I’m very excited. This is going to be a war.

“Guess what? My experience is definitely going to be a factor. I’ve been there. I’ve been with the best. I’ve been where he hasn’t gone. Nothing he brings will be a surprise to me. It’s going to be a fight, and it’ll come down to whoever wants it more.”

These days, facing Ayala is no easy task regardless of age. Since signing a promotional contract with CES, Ayala is 3-0 in 2011, including back-to-back knockout wins over Joe Gardner (April 1) and George Armenta (May 6). Working with newly-hired trainer Peter Manfredo Sr. has had a positive impact on Ayala’s preparation for this upcoming bout as he looks to continue his climb to the top of the rankings in the middleweight division.

“Not only is he saying the right thing, but with the way I feel when he speaks to me, I absorb everything a lot better than if it were coming from the average Joe,” Ayala said. “I trust a lot of what he’s saying. I could literally go in there with a blindfold on and have him tell me what to do and I would still win the fight.”

Cardona’s recent record is somewhat deceiving; while he’s lost his last four fights, he’s done so against elite competition, including a knockout loss to red-hot welterweight prospect Mike Jones (25-0, 19 KOs) and a unanimous-decision loss to Camacho Jr. (53-4-1, 28 KOs) for the WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation title. Ayala is ignoring the numbers and heeding the advice of his peers.

“I few people I spoke to who have sparred against him say you can hit him with everything and he keeps coming forward,” Ayala said. “I’m not looking for a knockout; I’m just going to finesse it and put my skills on display. I’ve got OK pop, but my main thing is boxing. The goal is to hit him and not get hit.”

Tickets for “Heat Wave,” priced at $40, $65 and $105, can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254 or calling Ticketmaster at 1.800.745.3000. Fans can also purchase tickets online at www.cesboxing.com, www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Mohegan Sun Box Office. For more information on “Heat Wave,” visit www.cesboxing.com or www.mohegansun.com. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

‘Fire& Fury’ on Solo Boxeo Tecate show July 29 LIVE at South Point Hotel Casino, Las Vegas

By: Bob Trieger

LAS VEGAS (June 30, 2011) – Two-time world title challenger Danny “The Bronx Bomber” Santiago is hoping the third time’s the charm for him when he challenges World Boxing Association/International Boxing Association Light Heavyweight World Champion Beibut Shumenov, headlining the “Fire and Fury” pro boxing card, July 29 on the TeleFutura’s Solo Boxeo Tecate show, airing LIVE from South Point Hotel Casino in Las Vegas.

“Fire & Fury” is being promoted by KZ Event Productions, which is owned and operated by the Shumenov brothers, Beibut and Chingis, in Las Vegas. Shumenov-Santiago is somewhat of a boxing anomaly, featuring a pair of college graduates in a world title fight.

WBA #15 ranked Santiago (31-4-1, 19 KOs), fighting out of Ocala, Florida, is a two-time world title challenger. His signature victory was a fourth-round technical knockout of 30-1 Elvir Muriqi. Santiago was also featured on the third season of The Contender reality television series.

The Bronx native who lives in Ocala (FL) has had two proposed fights fall out, including one against Roy Jones, Jr. “I promised myself and my family that I would continue boxing as long as I still enjoyed it,” the University of South Florida graduate (business & accounting major) explained. “I still do. I opened a business - a gym around boxing (Central Florida Boxing – www.centralfloridaboxing.com) –to have something to fall back on when I retire from boxing. It’s turned out be a great thing. I had those two fights fall through but things like that happen when you’re self-promoted. But I stayed in my gym, working hard, and now I’m blessed to have this opportunity.”

Shumenov (11-1, 7 KOs), the 2004 Kazakhstan Olympian who is now fighting out of Las Vegas, set a light heavyweight record for capturing a world title in the fewest career fights, 10, when (Jan. 10, 2010) he won a 12-round decision againstGabriel Campillo in Las Vegas. Shumenov has successfully defended his WBA/IBA titles twice against No. 1 mandatory challenger Viacheslav Uzelkov (UDEC12) and three-time world champion William Joppy (KO6) last January in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. In his 11 pro fights, Beibut has defeated four world champions (Campillo, Joppy, Byron Mitchell and Montell Griffin) and two world title challengers (Uzelkov and Epifanio Mendoza).

“I don’t know Beibut but he’s obviously a unique individual having already accomplished what he has in 11 pro fights,” Santiago remarked. “But this is a business and I will do what I have to do in the ring against him. Boxing is what we’ve both chosen to do. Fighting is easy; it’s everything else in this business that’s difficult. Dealing with his people, though, I can tell you, they’re as professional as any I’ve ever worked with in boxing. It may be surprising for me to say this but, they’re very honest, first-class people. Everything they’ve said has actually happened.”

Santiago has more professional ring experience than Shumenov by 10 years, 24 fights and 97 rounds. Danny has lost two world light heavyweight title fights, both in 2007, to Zsolt Erdei (WBO) and Antonio Tarver (IBO).

“I don’t really have very much of an experience advantage over him,” Danny added.”Don’t look past his Olympics experience, on the grandest stage, fighting the best in the world. I may have more pro fights than him but he’s fought the same class of fighters, pro and Olympians, as I have.

“I’m not trying to butter him up but Shumenov is very exciting, smart, and strong. And just look at him - he’s a ‘brick-house!’ I need to be in the best shape of my life for this fight to fulfill the dream I had as a kid that I now have as a grown adult (win a world title).”

On Thursday July 7th, Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing returns to the Paradise Theater in the Bronx, for the latest installment of its popular, "Punchin at the Paradise" fight night series. The card will feature a number of exciting match-ups, including two separate fights that matches Bronx vs. Bronx, in a battle for neighborhood bragging rights. In addition to the pro fights featured on the card, there are also four amateur bouts scheduled to open up the show. The entire show will be broadcast live on GFL.TV

"Our goal, and our vision with the series, is to be able to build up boxing here in the Bronx. We have a tremendous venue with the Paradise Theater, and now by putting together exciting fights, that match Bronx Fighters vs. Bronx Fighters, we are confident we are well on our way to achieving that goal," stated Joe DeGuardia, CEO and President of Star Boxing. "Back in the glory days of boxing, these were the type of fights and cards you saw all the time. You have one guy fighting out of one gym in the Bronx, who is going to bring all his friends and supporters, fighting another guy whose gym is just a neighborhood away who will have all his fans cheering him on as well. Not only does it make for exciting fights, but also for a great atmosphere and in my eyes that's what boxing is all about."

The first Bronx Battle of the night will see tough veterans, Stephon "The Mandingo Warrior" Owusu (7-6, 4KO's) (Bronxchester Boxing Club) and Angel "White Tiger" Rios (9-4, 6KO's) (John's Gym) go toe-to-toe in a six round welterweight showdown. Both Owusu and Rios, have similar stories, as both began their careers in the late 1990's (Owusu in 1998, Rios in 1999). Both ran into some legal trouble a few years later that put their respective careers on the sidelines.

Rios who has been out of the ring since 2003, has been in with some pretty good opposition, having went the distance with former WBO super featherweight Champion, Mike Achondo, as well as former IBF, WBA and WBO lightweight Champion, Nate Campell.

Owusu, who made his return to the ring back in May on the first Punchin at the Paradise card of 2011, looked very good as he won a dominate four round decision before a strong contingent of fans in his first bout since 2000. With both fighters knowing that they can't afford to have any additional hiccups in their careers, you can expect an all out war when the two meet on July 7th.

The second Bronx Battle matches former NY Golden Gloves Champion, Danny Valle (4-0, 3KO's) against former bitter amateur rival, and fellow NY Golden Gloves Champion, Angel Torres, in a six round super featherweight showdown. There is bad blood between Valle and Torres that stems from their amateur days. They have talked about fighting one another for years, and now they will finally get a chance to settle the score once and for all on July 7th.

Also scheduled to see action on the card in separate four round bouts is the Bronx's super middleweight, Michael Ocasio (1-0, 1KO) and Mount Vernon welterweight, Juan Perez.

Ocasio, who trains at the Morris Park Boxing Club, was a former baseball standout, and was on scholarship at the University of Miami before injuring his shoulder and forcing him away from the sport. Now Ocasio, who comes from a boxing background, is looking to see how far his athletic ability can take him in the fight game.

Doors open at 6:30PM, with the first bout scheduled for 7:00PM. Tickets are priced at $30, $50 and $100 and can be purchased by calling the Star Boxing office at 718 823-2000, visiting www.starboxing.com or simply by CLICKING HERE: Tickets can also be purchased by visiting the Paradise Theater box office, located at 2403 Grand Concourse in the Bronx, NY.

At the the Bicentennial Square, fans came out to greet the main event fighters of Saturday's big boxing evening, which is called - "Mexico vs Philippines" - presented by Zanfer at the Multipurpose Center (CMU) in Hermosillo, and it will be televised on TV Azteca nationally, and internationally by Fox Sports. World Boxing Association (WBA) Flyweight champion Hernan "Tyson" Marquez (30-2-0, 23 KOs) will defend the title against dangerous Filipino Edrin Dapudong (22-3-0, 13 KOs).

On behalf of the Fisher family, it is with great sadness that DiBella Entertainment announces the passing of legendary boxing trainer, James “Bouie” Fisher. He was 83.

Fisher, best known for his work with Bernard Hopkins, was a mainstay in the Philadelphia boxing scene for decades. He won the 2001 Eddie Futch-John F.X. Condon Award, presented by the Boxing Writers’ Association of America annually to honor the year’s best trainer.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

On Saturday, September 17th, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (41-0, 25 KO's) returns to the ring to face "Vicious" Victor Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KO's) in a monumental showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada for Ortiz' WBC Welterweight title. This stimulating match-up will be televised LIVE on HBO PPV.

"Every time I step away from the sport, I make more money," exclaimed Mayweather during Tuesday's press conference at the Hudson Theatre in New York's Times Square. "But, I miss the sport and I'm ready to fight!"

Mayweather, 34, has been inactive since defeating "Sugar" Shane Mosley via twelve-round unanimous decision on May 1, 2010. Instead of selecting an easy opponent for his return, Mayweather elected to face Ortiz, who called him out in the course of an ESPN interview with Brian Kenny shortly after defeating Andre Berto.

Aside from Manny Pacquiao, who refuses to obliged to Mayweather's demand for an Olympic-style drug test (random blood and urine testing preceding and following a potential fight), Ortiz is the best welterweight in the world, and he agreed to the testing warranted by Mayweather. Early odds in Las Vegas casinos have made Mayweather a herculean favorite over him at 8-1, although Ortiz is a highly formidable threat to dethrone the fighter nicknamed "Money".

Mayweather's trusted advisor and C.E.O. of Mayweather Promotions, Leonard Ellerbe, shared his thoughts on a possible Manny Pacquiao fight in the future.

"Everyone knows why the fight didn't happen," said Ellerbe. "He (Top Rank C.E.O. Bob Arum) knows his fighter will get his ass tore up. That's why the fight won't happen. This (Mayweather vs. Ortiz) is the biggest fight we could make. Manny is fighting guys Floyd already beat. When Floyd fights Manny, it will be an easy fight. Bob Arum is controlling the pot. Why put Pacquiao in there with him (Floyd) when he can match Pacquiao with one of his fighters, and no one will question him?"

Ellerbe added, "Mayweather is the king of the throne. He's the biggest attraction in the sport. There's not going to be a lot of moving around. Ortiz' style matches Floyd well. It's going to be an easy fight. Ortiz makes way too many mistakes."

How long does Mayweather believe it will be before Olympic-style drug testing is adopted as a norm in the sport of boxing?

"When I become the head of boxing, it's going to be mandatory for everyone," stated Mayweather.

Is Mayweather's run of being unbeaten about to end?

"I want to go down as an all-time great," acknowledged Ortiz. "Now, I have that opportunity in front of me."

One of Ortiz' advantages in this upcoming contest is his southpaw stance, which is well-known to give conventional fighters, such as Mayweather, obstacles to overcome. Southpaws are extremely tricky. In 2006, Mayweather was nailed by a right hook from Zab Judah in the second round, and subsequently, his right glove touched the canvas. Referee Richard Steele should have ruled it a knockdown. Yet, Mayweather broke Judah down as the rounds progressed, and coasted to a twelve-round unanimous decision win. While Ortiz is not as sharp a puncher as Judah, he owns a ton of dynamism in both hands. Ortiz is naturally right-handed, and his right hand, which he will be jabbing with, is his most powerful one.

Another edge Ortiz has on Mayweather is youth; Ortiz is just 24-years-old, and is in the prime of his career. While Ortiz may lack the experience Mayweather holds, his ten-year upper-hand in age can be a decisive factor in the fight when considering Mayweather has been off over a year. As distinguished as Mayweather is and has been, his best days took place in the junior lightweight division ten years ago. How will the layoff affect Mayweather's superior lateral movement?

Ortiz, however, does not feel his age is an additional benefit.

"There are no advantages," responded Ortiz. "Mayweather is a great fighter, and I will be prepared to the fullest."

Will the size differential matter?

Ortiz seems to have settled in nicely at welterweight, and is by nature the bigger man. Having a smaller body frame, can Mayweather withstand the pressure Ortiz will bring?

"When the night of the fight comes, I'll be a lot bigger than he is," expressed Mayweather.

Can Ortiz catch Mayweather with the big shot?

Ortiz may not be quicker than Mayweather, but he will undoubtedly be the hardest puncher Mayweather has ever faced. And, when you compile that with youth, a southpaw stance and a dominating, Carmen Basilio-like performance against a previously unbeaten Andre Berto at a convenient weight, you have the recipe for a colossal upset. Or, is it? 8-1 odds seem a little unrealistic anyway.

If you believe in karma, Ortiz may have some comfort in that category as well. It just may be his time to shine.

To briefly summarize, Ortiz' mother said that he would never amount to anything in life. Ortiz, who was forced to grow up in the foster-care system after his mother abandoned him at 7-years-old, has already evolved into an outstanding prizefighter and a very admirable person. Now, Ortiz has a very pragmatic chance to cement a place in boxing history, if he can become the first man to defeat the brash-talking, boxing savant, Mayweather. The last time Floyd Mayweather, Jr. lost was in 1996 as a featherweight in the amateurs when Bulgarian Serafim Todorov beat him on points 10-9.

Just imagine what a terrific story it would be if Ortiz won: A seven-year-old boy, who is now a man, told by his mother he would never amount to anything, an underdog who overcame immense hardships his whole life, rose to the top of the boxing landscape and emerged as the first fighter to defeat the most technically-gifted boxer of his generation.

"I'm here to fight," explained Ortiz. "I am going to leave it all in the ring."

Maybe, we shouldn't jump ahead?

On the other side of the coin, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is arguably the best boxer since Muhammad Ali, and currently ranks as the best, or one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Mayweather possesses a remarkable resume of dominant victories against the likes of Genaro Hernandez, Angel Manfredy, Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo (twice), Arturo Gatti, Zab Judah, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez and "Sugar" Shane Mosley. Mayweather's level of experience compared to Ortiz is simply overwhelming. And, Mayweather holds leverage in a few other key areas.

Mayweather is deeply regarded as the best defensive fighter on the planet, as he is able to make his opponents miss with countless punches while standing directly in front of them. Mayweather also switches from defense to offense more efficiently than any fighter in the entire sport. He boasts the most pinpoint, accurate punches, and he repeatedly lands crisp, clean combinations. Will Ortiz be able to handle Mayweather's judicious punches? Or, is Mayweather too old to methodically break down a bigger fighter, such as Ortiz, compared to his previous opponents in the lower-weight classes? Since 2005, Mayweather only has four knockouts in his last ten fights versus fighters 140 lbs. and greater. And, Mayweather only has one stoppage win since 2006, a tenth-round TKO against Ricky Hatton in 2007. That being said, Mayweather doesn't need a knockout to win, but he will need an immeasurable resource - his legs, which are the first asset to go on an aging fighter.

HBO boxing commentator Larry Merchant once said that it would be interesting to see what would happen when Mayweather would have to stand and fight. Mayweather's abilities are a cut above anyone in the sport, however, he is not getting younger. This is Mayweather's initial fight back after a year away from boxing. All of the training and sparring in the gym can never take the place of a real fight. If his legs get old in the ring against a larger, younger opponent, Mayweather will be forced to come out of his defensive shell to showcase the offensive firepower fans used to see from him in the lower-weight classes, especially the 130 lb. division.

Can Mayweather still be in the prime of his career?

"You'll see September 17th," replied Mayweather.

Mayweather isn't fighting Pacquiao, although Ortiz presents a comparable challenge. Ortiz and Pacquiao are both southpaws, and they contain a sound offense. But, Ortiz is a much younger and bigger man, who punches harder. Pacquiao overwhelms his opponents with speed and whirlwind punches. Neither man has been in the ring before with a defensive genius like Mayweather and, a fighter who has never tasted defeat, does not now how to lose. Mayweather always finds a way to win. He knows no other way.

Will factors outside the ring impede Mayweather's performance on September 17th?

Mayweather is involved in business activities, such as music promotion. He owns Mayweather Promotions, and has also briefly mentioned doing a reality television show with rapper 50-Cent based on their friendship.
It is well-known Mayweather enjoys gambling on sports in Las Vegas by the numerous pictures posted on his facebook page of his winning tickets, mainly from NBA games. Then, there are Mayweather's pending legal issues. Manny Pacquiao has sued him for 100 million dollars in a defamation of character lawsuit. Recently, Mayweather refused to attend the deposition hearing to state his side of the story. Additionally, Mayweather is facing charges of domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend, Josie Harris. The felony counts of grand larceny, robbery and coercion could land the fighter up to 34 years in prison. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for October.

In regards to Manny Pacquiao's defamation of character lawsuit against him, Mayweather did not shy away from questions. Instead, he made a strong and valid point on the matter.

"Why didn't they subpoena any websites that put these comments on the internet?" voiced Mayweather.

Will Mayweather be completely focused on Ortiz? So far, distractions outside the ring have never affected Mayweather inside of it.

It remains to be seen whether or not boxing fans will ever get to witness Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. What we do know is that there is a major curve in the road to get there. No, it's not just the Olympic-style drug test or Bob Arum; It's Victor Ortiz. We are getting a highly-competitive fight on September 17th. You can surly bet on it. "Money" Mayweather knows it, and must break the "vicious" cycle in front of him for it to still have a chance at happening.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Support military families July 4th weekend, and join us for a FREE Charity Boxing Match for the Troops on Saturday, July 2, 2011. The event is open to the public, and will be held at Great Lakes Naval Base – Ross Field. All proceeds will benefit the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. First bout starts at 3:30pm.

Several top, Chicago area and local boxers will be participating from Chicago and area boxing clubs, including Warehouse Gym in Highland Park. Warehouse is one of several area businesses that are donating to this worthwhile cause.

In addition to boxers, there will be several former and current Chicago Bears players on-hand.

“Battle at the Great Lakes” was launched by former Bears and current Baltimore Ravens fullback, Jason McKie, and his charitable foundation, the Jason McKie foundation.

McKie, a resident of north suburban Gurnee, has been active in the community throughout his NFL career.

In 2008, McKie launched the Jason McKie Foundation of the Institute for Science and Health, which focuses on programs in the areas of education and wellness, with an emphasis on making an impact in the lives of families of soldiers. The Foundation provides educational scholarships to children and spouses affected by a loss, or severely injured parent or spouse.

PROVIDENCE (June 27, 2011) – Nineteen-year-old Toka Kahn- Clary, of Providence, qualified to compete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials by capturing a Silver Medal at last week’s 2011 USA Boxing National Championships in Colorado Springs.

Kahn-Clary, who now sports a 76-8 amateur career record, travels again later this week to compete in the final Pan-American Games Qualifier in Panama City. He is attempting to qualify for the 2011 Pan-Am Games, October 17-30, in Mexico.

At the double-elimination U.S. Olympic Team Trials, July 31-August 6 in Mobile, Alabama, Toka will be rated No. 2 in the 132-pound division. The winners there in each of the eight divisions will become members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team, which will participate in the 2011 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan to qualify for competition in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Last week at The Nationals, Kahn-Clary won four of five matches, including a 23-22 semi-finals victory against No. 1 seeded Kenneth Sims, Jr., in what arguably was the best match of the entire tournament. In the championship match against defending champion Jose Ramirez, the two boxers were deadlocked after one round but Toka took an eight-count due to an unintentional head-butt in the second, and they went toe-to-toe in the third and final round. Ramirez captured gold, 28-20, for the second year in a row.

“Toka gained a lot of respect,” Kahn-Clary’s coach Peter Manfredo, Sr. reported. “The best trainer in the world, Freddie Roach, presented awards to both boxers after their match and he said to me, ‘A helluva fight and your kid can really fight.’ It was quite a compliment coming from Freddie. Toka was at the top of his game in the semi-finals. He was sharp: hand speed, accuracy, and intelligence. Toka was unbelievable and I think he would have been named Most Outstanding Boxer of the tournament if he had won gold. Qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Trials was a great accomplishment. He’ll be matched in the opening round against the No. 7 seed. Ramirez will be No. 1 but one more spot will be determined this weekend to complete the eight-boxer field.”

Kahn-Clary, a Liberia-native who moved to Providence 12 years ago, had already captured top honors in the 132-pound lightweight division this year at the at the New England Tournament of Champions at Foxwoods Resort Casino (CT), New England Golden Gloves Tournament in Lowell (MA), and Northeast Regional Championships at Lake Placid (NY).

Last year in the 123-pound bantamweight class, Kahn-Clary captured a gold medal of the National Golden Gloves Tournament, as well as bronze in The Nationals.

If Toka earns a spot on the 2012 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team, he will become the third straight Olympic boxer from Rhode Island, joining Jason Estrada and Demetrius Andrade from the 2004 and 2008 squads, respectively.

Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. received his WBC championship belt after defeating former champion Sebastian Zbik on June the 4th, 2011.

As per the WBC Rules and Regulations, a voluntary defense has been granted to the new champion to then proceed to fight the WBC Diamond champion Sergio Martinez, who will also make a voluntary defense on October the 15th.

The WBC is very proud of both great champions and we wish them the best of luck.

TORONTO (June 27, 2011) – Undefeated prospect Logan Cotton McGuinness successfully defended his North American Boxing Association (“NABA”) lightweight title for the second time, taking a 10-round majority decision (96-94, 96-94, 95-95) against veteran Daniel “Canerito” Ruiz, in an entertaining, highly competitive fight on the most recent “Friday Night At The Fights” show (June 24) at Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

The “Friday Night At the Fights” show was presented by United Boxing Promotions, in association with McGuiness’ promoter, Hennessy Sports, and Groupe Yvon Michel.

McGuinness (15-0-1, 7 KOs), fighting in front of a packed house of passionate fans from Toronto, is rated No. 11 by the World Boxing Association (“WBA”). “It’s always good fighting at home,” McGuinness said from his home. “I just finished watching a tape of the fight. The first could have gone either way but I thought I won rounds two through seven easily. I was applying pressure, using my jab and moving inside to hit his body. I got caught with a shot in the eighth. I recovered between rounds and I think we were both low on gas in the ninth. He caught me again in the 10th but I survived. Everybody was telling me to take a knee but I shook my head (no) because I have the heart of a fighter. A tough fight but I’ll come back even stronger because of it. Hey, I’m an Irish fighter…I couldn’t take a knee.”

Ruiz (22-4-1, 16 KOs), fighting outside of his native Mexico for the first time, is a former Mexican Pacific Coast Featherweight Champion who came into last Friday night’s action riding a five-fight unbeaten streak (4-0-1).

“I wouldn’t say I was surprised by how he (Ruiz) fought,” added McGuinness, who dedicated his fight to the memory of Nick Charles (award-winning boxing announcer). “I just didn’t know what to expect because there’s not much footage of him available. He’s a good counter-puncher with his left and right hands. He hurt me with counter-rights when I brought my jab back a little lazy. That was my fault because it was something I should have avoided.”

McGuinness’ next scheduled opponent, former world title challenger Benoit Gaudet (24-2, 10 KOs), fighting out of Quebec, was a special guest at ringside. The arch-rival Canadians are slated to fight August 27 in Canada.

“There’s a lot of video on Gaudet,” Logan remarked. “Preparing properly for him won’t be a problem like it was for this fight. He’s a different fighter than Ruiz, much more of a boxer, a very good boxer at that. He was out-boxing Humberto Soto for the first seven-eight rounds until he got caught in the ninth (TKO9 in 2009 for Soto’s WBC super featherweight title). I talked with my trainer, Chris Johnson, and we need to bring in more and better sparring partners for this fight (vs. Gaudet), even though I was in great shape (for Ruiz). I think I’ll be the stronger fighter. I’ll need to cut-off the ring and apply pressure and he’s going to want to box and move around.”

Jose "Mangu" Peralta Alejo, (6-1, 4 KO's), of Jersey City, NJ, has signed a promotional agreement with Main Events. In his last fight on October 30, 2010, Jose upset former New York Golden Gloves Champion Christian Martinez who was 4-0 at the time. Mangu is a refreshing addition to the Junior Welterweight division.

"Jose is like a breath of fresh air. He's not only a likeable guy, he's got a hunger and enthusiasm that you don't see too often these days." said Main Events CEO, Kathy Duva. "It is also such a joy to be teaming up, again, with Pat Lynch and Mikey Red, whom we shared so much success and fun with while working with Arturo Gatti for so many years."

Jose said, "I am happy to sign with a world class promoter like Main Events. With Pat Lynch as my manager and Mikey Red as my trainer, my team is complete. I feel like I can achieve my goal to become a world champion now." He added, "I want to thank Main Events for giving me the opportunity to fight on the July 23rd Judah - Khan card."

Trainer Mikey "Red" Skowronski was ecstatic about the signing, "I could not be happier. I have known the crew from Main Events for such a long time, all the way back to Gatti days. They are one of the few promotional companies in NJ that are actually doing something good for their fighters. He's in the right hands." He added, "Right now Mangu is training very hard for the July 23rd fight. No disrespect to Zab, but we're going to steal the show!"

Mangu's manager, Pat Lynch expressed, "I am very happy to be working with Main Events again, and I look forward to making another world champion together! From here, with Jose's talent and the solid team now behind him, we can only go up."

Zab Judah: "When I went in against Matthysse, me and my team knew that I was going to beat him. Golden Boy thought I was going to be a stepping stone, so they sacrificed one of their pawns. Now they're going to come back and sacrifice one of their queens. It's check mate baby, you know it is!"

"I plan to be his (Amir Kahn's) worst nightmare. After this fight I plan on Team Kahn having a 62 hour watch on Amir Kahn. I plan on being the Freddie Cougar of his dreams. I plan on being Freddie Cougar to Freddie Roach. I'm pretty sure after this fight Freddie Roach would never put his golden boy and marquis fighter, which is Manny Pacquiao, against me in the ring."

Over the past five years, "I grew up a lot. It's not just about age, its maturity. It took me a little more time to figure things out. Now I am alive and alert and I have the great Pernell Whitaker in my corner. Having him in my corner exempts the whole Freddie Roach thing. Now I have not only a masterful trainer, but I have a masterful fighter too. Freddie Roach has a great game plan when it comes to boxing training, but as a fighter he wasn't that masterful. I have not only a masterful fighter but a great teacher, so I have the edge."

"Pernell Whitaker and Zab Judah is something like a movie. We started out together when he was still fighting and it turned out to be a great thing. We are now working side by side with each other. He's my right-hand man! He's pouring on all the great skills and accomplishments that he's done in his boxing career. It's phenomenal. He's good at what he does."

A win against Kahn would mean: "For the most part it unifies the division; it's a closer step to undisputed. I also think Amir Kahn is a good boxer. He has fast hands, decent power, but I think it's a sacrifice move what Golden Boy did here with Amir Kahn, and I think he (Kahn) will realize this once the bell rings."

"I'm from Brooklyn, I don't have problem taking the the long, hard, grinding road. I wasn't the golden boy. I wasn't the guy always in the light, the guy always first picked, but somehow I made my way back to the top with the thanks of Main Events and Super Judah Promotions. It says a lot to come out of the '96 team of great fighters, and to be one of about 2 of those fighters still standing on the championship level."

"Main Events has done a great job with me. It's a good feeling. I have a strong team. We're the underdogs going up against what they would call wolves, they do their jobs, I do my job, and we got a successful plan going on. I think we won't be stopped."

"July 23rd is about this: what can you bring as far as your skills; what can you bring as far as far your brains; what can you bring as far as your knowledge of boxing; what can you do inside that square ring; what do you do when you look across that ring and there's a hungry lion named Zab "Super" Judah looking you dead in the eye, anxious for the bell to go bing?' You either fold or you play cards. I'm going to play to win."

Kathy Duva: "Zab is being under-estimated. Everybody keeps talking about Zab being old, but he's not old and I don't know why people think he is. If you look at the top ten best pound for pound fighters in the world you'll find that the vast majority of them are older than Zab. He's experienced. He started professional boxing at an age much younger than most professional fighters. There's nothing wrong with experience. If you look at the history of boxing, generally the young talented fighters have run into a problem the first time they meet up with an experienced fighter in his prime. That's the real test. Lots of guys can come up and win titles, there are lots of titles that are available, but when you get in that first fight against that really experienced fighter, that's the real test. That's the test that Matthysse was not able to pass, and now Kahn is going to have to deal with the same thing. That's why we like this fight, that's why we like Amir Kahn as an opponent for Zab, because we believe that Zab is going to take him to school."

Tickets priced at $400, $300, $200, $100 and $50 are available for purchase at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith's Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

In the United Kingdom, the event will be broadcast live on Primetime Pay-Per-View, channel 480 on Sky for £14.95. For fans who want to travel to Las Vegas to see the fight live, Team Khan has teamed up with leading Thomas Cook brand Flexibletrips to provide a range of tailor-made travel packages for fans who want to be there in person. Packages include flights, hotel rooms and fight tickets. More information is available at www.amirkhan2vegas.com or by calling 0844 8798298.

Hundreds of boxing fans made their way to the Köln-Arcaden in Cologne, Germany, today to watch the public workout in advance of Saturday’s world title clash at the Lanxess Arena between WBA Middleweight champion Felix Sturm and challenger Matthew Macklin from Ireland. Both fighters appeared to be in great shape, as they did their work routine and seemed thoroughly confident. Sturm and Macklin promised a victory to the crowd in attendance.

Macklin:“It’s a great challenge for me to beat Felix Sturm in his hometown. I’ll win this fight and bring the WBA belt back to Ireland.”

“There won’t be a new world champion on Saturday night,”Sturm promised the fans after his workout.“Cologne is Cologne and fighting inside the Lanxess Arena is always special to me. I’m ready for a great battle on Saturday.”

Pictured above from left to right: State Senator Vincent J. Hughes, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, State Representative Jewell William, WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion Bernard Hopkins and Deputy Whip of PA House of Representatives, State Representative Tony Payton all of whom hail from Philadelphia

Photo Credit: Office of Senator Hughes

Hopkins "Brings Down The House" With Inspirational Speech On Senate Floor

Harrisburg, PA (June 23)...The Pennsylvania State Government honored Philadelphia native Bernard Hopkins at the State Capital yesterday for his recent WBC Light Heavyweight World Championship victory as the oldest fighter in boxing history to win a world title. Hopkins was invited by Senator Vincent Hughes, who has represented the state's 7th District (covers parts of Philadelphia and Montgomery County) since 1994.

Hopkins made appearances on the House and Senate floors where each chamber presented him with a proclamation honoring his record-breaking victory over Jean Pascal in their championship rematch on May 21 in Montreal.

Following the proclamation on the Senate floor, Hopkins was given the opportunity to speak, and in true Hopkins style, inspired every person in the room as he shared his life story of overcoming obstacles and investing in health in order to reach where he is today.

Hopkins ended his speech by saying, "Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, whatever decisions we all make together as one, it affects lives."

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Since the legendary Mexican fighter Efren Torres, no boxer had been able to gather as many people (14,000) at a championship fight as Saul Alvarez last weekend at the modern VFG Arena in Jalisco, Mexico in his 1st WBC Light Middleweight title defense against Ryan Rhodes.

Saul Alvarez accumulated 24 rating points (1.5 million people per point) with spikes of 26, something reachable only by the Mexican soap operas in the country.

‘Fire & Fury’ On Solo Boxeo Tecate Show LIVE At South Point Hotel Casino

By: Bob Trieger

LAS VEGAS (June 22, 2011) – KZ Event Productions announced today that World Boxing Association/International Boxing Association Light Heavyweight World Champion Beibut Shumenov will make his third title defense July 29, showcased on TeleFutura’s Solo Boxeo Tecate show, LIVE from South Point Hotel Casino in Las Vegas.

Shumenov (11-1, 7 KOs), the 2004 Kazakhstan Olympian who is now fighting out of Las Vegas, set a light heavyweight record for capturing a world title in the fewest career fights, 10, when he won (Jan. 10, 2010) a 12-round decision against Gabriel Campillo in Las Vegas. Shumenov has successfully defended his WBA/IBA titles twice against No. 1 mandatory challenger Viacheslav Uzelkov (UDEC12) and three-time world champion William Joppy (KO6) last January in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.

“I’m very excited to be fighting in my adopted hometown, Las Vegas, where I won the world title,” Shumenov said. “I’ve lived in Las Vegas for a few years and I’ve wanted to defend my title belts here since I first won them. I have a lot of respect for my opponent, Danny Santiago, who has a lot of experience in big fights. In addition to my world title fight, we’ll also be showcasing world-class fighters, along with local Las Vegas favorites. This promotion will not only feature great boxing but Vegas-style entertainment, too.

“I’d like to thank Golden Boy, Don Chagrin, Guilty Boxing, TeleFutura’s Solo Boxeo and our host venue, the beautiful South Point Hotel Casino. We’re all working together to make this a memorable night for everyone there and those fans watching on television.”

WBA #15 ranked Santiago (31-4-1, 19), fighting out of Ocala, Florida, is a two-time world title challenger. His signature victory was a fourth-round technical knockout of 30-1 Elvir Muriqi. Santiago was also featured on the third season of The Contender reality television series.

Flores (6-0, 6 KOs), a southpaw from Puerto Rico now fighting out of Hartford, was dominant from the opening round. A game Moore was pounded but he didn’t go down until the seventh round, resulting from a devastating combination of lethal punches Flores, after which his corner threw in the towel.

The New Haven Six – half-dozen fighters from New Haven – won four of six bouts with one draw. New Haven junior featherweight Luis “The KO King” Rosa (7-0, 5 KOs) kept his unbeaten record intact with a win by six-round majority decision. Rosa, who recently signed a promotional contract with DiBella Entertainment, needed to get up off the deck in the second round to win.

New Haven lightweight Oscar Bonilla won his pro debut by unanimous four-round decision versus Corey White; New Haven super middleweight Charles Foster won his pro debut via a second round technical knockout against Ralph Johnson; New Haven junior welterweight got his first pro win by way of a unanimous four-round decision against Barrington Douse; New Haven junior featherweight Josh Crespo and Frankie Garriga fought to a four-round draw in pro debuts for both fighters. Jose Javier Calderon improved to 2-0 with a second-stoppage of New Haven junior welterweight.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Bethlehem, PA — When intra-state welterweight rivals Ronald Cruz, of Bethlehem, PA, and Doel Carrasquillo, of Lancaster, PA, square off July 1 at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, they will be helping other local fighters display their skills as well.

A host of Eastern Pennsylvania-based fighters representing nearby towns will fill out the undercard, which begins at 7.30 pm in the 1,500-seat tent on the grounds of the Sands Casino.

Torres, a 28-year-old southpaw, scored a solid win in his last fight May 21 in Reading, PA, when he earned a six-round decision over Travis Thompson, of Pottstown, PA. A pro since 2006, Torres is 5-2-2, 2 K0s.

Green, 27, comes into the fight off the biggest victory of his career, an eight-round decision over Ryan Belasco, of Wilmington, DE, on March 18 at Harrah’s Casino, Chester, PA. Green is 6-4, 3 K0s, in three years as a pro.

The other scheduled six-rounder features middleweights Rashad Brown, of Upper Darby, PA, against Todd Eriksson, of Dover, NJ.

Brown, 22, knocked out Philip Burnette, of Myrtle Beach, SC, in the first round June 3 at Harrah’s Casino, Chester, PA. Brown, former batboy for the Philadelphia Phillies, is 4-0, 2 K0s.

Eriksson, 25, fought the same night as Brown and lost a disputed four-round decision toFred Jenkins, Jr. Eriksson is 3-6-2, 1 K0.

Popular heavyweight William Miranda (pictured above), of Allentown, PA, meets Zeferino Albino, of Philadelphia, PA, in a rematch of their four-round draw on the May 21 card in Reading.

Miranda, 33, is 2-3-1; Albino, 33, is 4-12-3, 2 K0s.

Albino scored a major win earlier this year when he knocked out Big John Poore, of Upper Darby, PA, in two rounds on Jan. 22 at Harrah’s Chester. Poore was 21-4, 18 K0s, prior to losing to Albino.

Another heavyweight, Eric Newell, who played football at Bethlehem Catholic High School and Kutztown University, makes his local debut in a four-round fight against unbeaten John Mercurio, of Philadelphia, PA.

Newell, 28, is 1-1, 1 K0. In his last fight March 4 in Atlantic City, he lost a four-round decision to Ali Santos, of Camden, NJ. In his pro debut last year, Newell knocked out Octavius Davis, of Wilson, NC, in two rounds.

Mercurio, 32, is 4-0, 3 K0s, and he defeated Miranda via four-round decision in his last fight April 1 at the South Philly Arena.

Grayson Blake, of State College, PA, and Anthony Abrams, of Philadelphia, PA, collide in a four-round junior middleweight contest.

Blake, 29, is 2-0, 1 K0. Abrams, 34, is 1-6, but has never been stopped and three of his losses were to Pawel Wolak, Gabriel Rosado and Jose Angel Rodriguez, all current world-rated junior middleweights.

Gonzalez, 35, boxed a draw in his only pro fight May 21 in Reading, while Arocho, 22, is 1-4, 1 K0.

Welterweights Chris Plebani, of Bristol, PA, and David Navarro, of Philadelphia, PA, meet in a four-round contest with each man looking for his first win as a pro. Plebani, 24, is 0-2; Navarro, 33, is 0-3.

Tickets for the July 1 card are priced at $51 and $78. They can be purchased by calling Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) or from the gift shop at the Sands Casino Resorts Bethlehem. They also are available online at www.ArtsQuest.org and www.peltzboxing.com.

TORONTO (June 17, 2011) – World cruiserweight contender Troy Ross is experiencing abdominal pains and has been hospitalized in Toronto, where he is undergoing precautionary tests. He has been forced to withdraw from fighting June 24 on the “Friday Night At The Fights” show at Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Ross (24-2, 16 KOs), a two-time Canadian Olympian, is the top-rated IBF contender at No. 3 (#1 and #2 are not rated), as well as ranked No. 5 by The Ring magazine, No. 14 by the WBA, and No. 15 by the WBC. He is expected to return to the ring in late August.

NABA Lightweight Champion Logan Cotton McGuinness (14-0-1, 7 KOs), rated No. 11 by the World Boxing Association, defends his title for the first time June 24 in the 10-round main event against Daniel “Canerito” Ruiz. “Friday Night At The Fights” is being presented by United Boxing Promotions in association with Hennessy Sports and Groupe Yvon Michel.

Tickets to “Friday Night at the Fights,” starting at $30.00, may be purchased at the Hershey Centre box office, through Ticket Master by dialing 416-872-5000, or by going on line to ticketmaster.ca.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

The suffocating heat did not prevent people from watching the last training session of champion Saul Alvarez at Parque Extremo in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

The king of the WBC Superwelterweight division left a good impression on hundreds of fans due to his flashing speed of hands in the ring, which was previously used by his British challenger, Ryan Rhodes.

"I am happy to see all these people," Saul said. "I am going to show them that I am a true champion."

As fans were cheering, Alvarez punched the mitts under the guidance of his trainer, Edison Reynoso, and his fists looked powerful.

The training session was short, but it was a good example of what the southpaw Rhodes must expect.

"I will take the title home," Rhodes said as he wore the official jersey of the most popular soccer team of Guadalajara City, aiming to please Mexican fans.

Atlantic City, NJ—Hard-hitting Allen Conyers, of the Bronx, NY, steps in for the injured Harry Joe Yorgey when he takes on Gabriel Rosado, of Philadelphia, PA, in the scheduled 10-round junior middleweight main event Friday evening, July 15, at Bally’s Atlantic City.

Yorgey, of Bridgeport, PA, sustained a shoulder injury in training Monday evening and will be out of action for three months.

Conyers, 35, is known as the Dream Shatterer for his record of derailing the careers of several promising fighters.

Earlier this year, he shattered the 20-0 record of James De La Rosa when he scored three knockdowns and a unanimous 10-round decision over the Texas prospect at the Silverdome in Pontiac, MI, on the Timothy Bradley vs. Devon Alexander card.

In one three-fight stretch, Conyers scored knockouts over Jonathan Tubbs (7-1-1 at the time), of Rochester, NY, Russell Jordan (12-3), also of Rochester, NY, and Derek Ennis (10-0-1), of Philadelphia, PA.

Conyers is dangerous early, having K0d Tubbs and Jordan each in the first round and Ennis in the second.

By comparison, Rosado lost a 12-round decision to Ennis last summer for the USBA junior middleweight title.

A pro since 2002, Conyers temporarily left boxing after losing to world-rated Said Ouali, of Morocco, in 2008, then returned this year, beating De La Rosa and losing to world-rated Carlos Molina, of Chicago, IL.

Overall, Conyers is 12-5, 9 K0s, fighting world-rated men like James Kirkland, of Austin, TX, and Delvin Rodriguez, of Danbury, CT.

“I know Conyers is dangerous, especially early in the fight,” said Rosado. “I can’t stick my chin out there and let him test it. I’m disappointed Yorgey won’t be in the opposite corner July 15, but I look forward to fighting him when he gets healthy. In the meantime, I cannot afford to get careless with Conyers.”

Six additional fights complete the July 15 card, which begins at 7.30 pm.

Tickets priced at $50 and $75 are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and at Ticketmaster (800-745-3000). They also are available online at www.peltzboxing.com and www.ticketmaster.com.